Inhibition of Neutrophil Superoxide Secretion By of Preservative, Methylhydroxybenzoate: Effects Mediated By Perturbation of Intracellular Ca²⁺?

The preservative, methylhydroxybenzoate inhibited O2− secretion from human neutrophils activated by both the chemotactic peptide fMet-Leu-Phe and phorbol myristate acetate (PMA): the low level of oxidant secretion activated by the ionophore A23187 was similarly reduced in preservative-treated suspensions. Oxidant secretion was similarly reduced in fMet-Leu-Phe and A23187 treated suspensions in which intracellular Ca2+ was buffered by loading with Quin-2, indicating that methylhydroxybenzoate may exert its effects by perturbation of intracellular Ca2+ -dependent processes. Methylhydroxybenzoate could mimic EGTA in preventing the Ca2+ dependent enhancement of trypsin activity and could also bind this cation in experiments using a Ca2+ electrode, although the preservative bound Ca2+ more slowly and had a lower affinity than EGTA. These data indicate that methylhydroxybenzoate may exert its effects on neutrophils by perturbation of Ca2+-dependent activation pathways and this phenomenon may also explain its other known pharmacological effects. Furthermore, these observations provide an insight into the mechanisms by which intracellular Ca2+ may regulate oxidant secretion.